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This is our Open Log for players to have an easy opportunity to tag others and have fun with prompts that deal with current happenings that are not covered by our MANTA Board quests. Sometimes we provide extra quests at the bottom, but oftentimes we just let the MANTA Board cover it. Players are free to include MANTA Board quests in their toplevels!

For your toplevel, please include the following: Character Name | Canon | Armada.

TOPLEVEL DIRECTORY (Updated November 25)

ELTRUT

With the Ghoul's Moon festivities over, it's time for everyone to clean up and prepare for the coming winter season. Of course, with the leviathans capable of moving and keeping to warmer waters, it's usually not much of an issue. But it never hurts to be prepared, and the crops and products are always great for export.

One of the biggest products that will be sent off this season will be everything pumpkin. The giant pumpkin shell Eltrut created for Ghoul's Moon will start to shed and the leviathan will need some help in gathering the large chunks before it falls completely into the ocean. Harvesting the pumpkin shell off of Eltrut is no easy feat, but not only is it edible, the rind is also tough and durable.

🔪 Harvest. Using carving knives and pickaxes, everyone must head out of town and into the forests to remove the pumpkin and clean off the shell beneath. Large tubs and wagons will be provided to help haul off the goods.
🐢 Pumpkin Spice Turtles. Drawn by all the pumpkins are small little pumpkin turtles. They are forbidden from being harmed or caught, however, they produce a special "pumpkin spice" and "pumpkin cinnamon" dust that can be carefully collected. While most will respect the law, others will be greedy and try to capture these turtles. Help protect and catch any who try—or perhaps get some extra cash by successfully catching and selling them off.
🔨 Build-A-Pumpkin. To help spur motivation and creativity, there are numerous competitions centered on building the most interesting and durable creation using only the pumpkin rinds. Some small things like nails and bits of wood can be used to help, but it must otherwise be made out of the rinds. From unique artwork to small buildings to carriages to boats and ships—the possibilities are endless. Just don't mind the mess.

Of more concern, both Eltrut and the Naughtilust were weakened from the attack from the Ghost Ship and are dozing a bit for the first week or so. Those in charge are requesting help in preparing special food that will help with their recovery. But to help keep spirits up and to hopefully provide some positive energy to the leviathans, a special hotpot gathering will be hosted for anyone to come and help cook, either for the leviathans or for others. A perfect chance to socialize and catch up with others. Just keep an eye out—someone may try to spoil the food.

To aid the two weakened leviathans, a list of key ingredients is provided for volunteers to head into the forests and out to sea to gather. Large tables and several grills, pots, and other cooking equipment will be provided for anyone to use.

🔥 Fire Sprites. Instead of normal flames, the food for the leviathans needs to be cooked over a special fire created by special fire sprite. They will only appear around campfires or bonfires where stories are told, so time to create a suitable fire pit and get to storytelling! Any kind will work.
🌰 Chest of Chestnuts. One of the most prized ingredients is a special type of chestnut that can only be found in special acorn chests buried underground by squirrel scavengers. These squirrels specifically gather these chestnuts because they are so rare, delicious, and known to have medicinal properties. Said squirrels will also gladly relinquish their store…if they can remember where those chests are. Time to go on a wild treasure hunt!
🐡 Fish Puffing. There is a special type of pufferfish that will be carefully collected and brought to the pier where volunteers must wear special gloves and carefully squeeze the fish to force it to secrete a special fluid that has potent healing properties. Soothe the fish and make them more willing to be handled by singing a cheerful tune. Whistling and other music can help. Feeding them special kelp and gently petting them will also keep them calm and less agitated.
🍲 Cookoff! Whether it's for the leviathans or just cooking a meal to be shared with others, the cooking stations are constantly in use. Who can prepare the most delicious meal?

ELAH

Things are a bit hectic within Baleen, the capital city of Elah. A wild flock of singing turkeys have been set loose and they are running amok, causing a disturbance to everyone. They are getting stuck in chimneys, popping into bathrooms, and swimming in the many fountain pools found all over town. What makes them more disruptive is their singing, which, unfortunately, sound more like nails dragging down chalkboard. While some may be ready to roast them to send to Eltrut for a feast, perhaps some may try to catch them.

And send them to Nogard. (They likely came from there, anyway—)

Researchers would especially appreciate it if these turkeys could be caught and removed as they are busy studying the tombstone relic brought back from the ghost ship. What secrets could it hold…?

At the Archives, researchers are hard at work studying the broken pieces of the black tombstone that was brought back from the ghost ship. They believe it's the reason the ship and its undead crew appeared, but how?

💤 Energy Drain. Although precautions are set, those who are exposed to the relics start feeling a bit drained, as if their energy is being sucked away. Quickly remove any affected and find a way to seal or contain the relics without being affected as well.
🪦 Undeadly Experiments. Although now in pieces, the tombstone relic still holds some power. Thus researchers decide to perform direct tests and experiments to see how it affects the undead. There are requests made to those who have previously died either in their world or this one, and some venture to graveyards where dead and ghosts are sometimes active. When in close contact with the relic, all who have experienced death in some way will become more hostile and aggressive, some even outright attacking any nearby. Help protect those performing the experiment and subdue the affected until they calm down.
🏃‍♂️ Thief! Those damn Corsair, they can never respect important research! A few bad eggs are breaking the agreement and are trying to steal the fragments, perhaps to sell them off to someone else or for some other purpose.

NOGARD

In Nogard, the island the leviathan has settled in is teeming with wild beasts, and perhaps due to being in a warmer climate, they are appearing more and more often, as if coming out of hibernation. It makes for a perfect opportunity for hunters to head out in hopes of collecting rare meat, materials, and hides that can be used and sold. To prevent overhunting, a competition is hosted with rules and regulations that all participants must abide by.

As such, there will be a group to help ensure security and they will even request assistance from Paladins, who are also allowed to participate in the hunt if they wish. Thus those who prefer to go after people will be quite useful to keep track and go after anyone who is poaching, hunting creatures under the "protected" list, or wasting the kills. To any who are caught…well, the Paladins may fare nicer compared to a Corsair.

While most predators and creatures of large populations are eligible for the competition, there are a few notable hunts that will reap great rewards for those who dare. Those who turn in their kills will receive a decent portion of the profits and first choice in what to keep for their own. The rest will be turned in to be sold, with the Elphantin tusks going straight to Eltrut to be used for the recovery efforts.

🦈 Goblin Shark. This deep-sea shark has a distinctive long, flattened snout and protrusible jaws, making it look quite unusual compared to other shark species. All parts of its body can be used so it makes for a profitable hunt—if one can brace the cold depths to take it down.
🐍 Coibara. Head of a cobra, body of a bear, and tail and coloring of a koi fish, this snake chimera can be found in dark coves and anywhere near deeper bodies of water. Capable of sprinting over the ground and swimming, beware of its poisonous fangs, which can also fetch a pretty penny along with its hide. The venom can also be collected for both poison and anti-venom purposes.
🦚 Pexeo. An equine beast with the body and markings of a zebra and plumage and head of a peacock that roams the greener valleys. Although not hostile, it can be dangerous if attacked, its beak revealing sharp rows of teeth that can tear up anything that gets caught in it and its hooves sharp as blades. Rather than killed, the feathers are the real prize and can be carefully plucked instead. But its meat can be considered a delicacy in some areas.
🐘 Elphantin. This giant elephant like creature is considered as the top hunt of the list. They can only be found deep within the forests and only appear at dawn when the foggy mist is thickest. While every part can be used, what makes this the top prize is the medicinal properties of its tusks. But it is very difficult to track and hunt and will take a group of skilled hunters to take down.

Afterwards, a large feast to celebrate is thrown, though of course it can get rowdy and with the alcohol fountain brought in, fights and brawls are bound to happen.

But there will also be a "special guest" rushing into town: wild boars. Perhaps agitated by the hunts or out for revenge against those who targeted them (which was allowed), the boars are crashing and charging into everything they see. While this may look like a good opportunity to prepare some BBQ Boar, the conservationists of the Corsairs would like to drive most of them back into the wilds.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Joshua certainly knows his was around a battle nowadays. He's not the weak child he used to be. While he's not as seasoned as Clive and Dion are... He'll do decently.

So, he shakes Dion's hand with a firm bounce.]

You as well.

[He smiles and gives a nod.]

Then I'll be happy to work with you. Together, it should be an easy enough mark.

Fantastic news. [ Dion smiles warmly and releases his hand after a moment before switching his weapon back where it belongs. ]

This should be the path. There is some manner of warning surrounding some spores, but I cannot imagine they will have time to release them.

[ They just need to be faster. ]

[Joshua follows with Dion. He is equipped with his long sword today although Joshua has always preferred his fire magic more.]

If we simply kill it before it might deploy such things we'll have nothing to worry about.

[Just keep the damage high. Who can stop two dominants?

The pathway into the thick wilds is a bit of a trek. But not entirely hard to walk through.]

That seems like the best tactic to take.

[ Not entirely hard to walk through, at first. The path seems perfectly fine, with patches of plants ahead.

There's nothing that seems amiss at first. These plants though, they're not nearly as defenseless as one would think.

Dion is walking with purpose and a tendril of some sort writhes next to him and wraps around his boot before he's yanked off his feet, off the path, into some writhing tendrils.

He lets out a rather surprised cry. It's just vines though, bad could this be? ]

Edited (eff you autocorrect) 2023-11-09 23:21 (UTC)

Dion!?

[The plant vines come out of nowhere?! Wrapping tightly around Dion's ankle and leg and dragging him off! They get dragged off a fair ways into the wilderness.

Joshua shouts after the man and immediately fires sparks at his hands as he grabs for the vines at Dion's leg. He grabs them with both hands.]

Hold on, you won't be taken that easily...!

[Pesky things...!! Joshua roasts the vines just enough that they retract. Luckily, Dion has boots on. But just up ahead is the slithering and drooling flower itself.]

Great Greagor's gash... It's much bigger than I'd been expecting.

[ If that isn't embarrassing, that Dion is lying on the ground among leaves and some singed vines and he sits up on an elbow once freed.

He looks where Joshua does at that monstrous plant. ]

That is far bigger than I was anticipating. [ Never mind his lance!

He might not have fire, but a searing light he can manage. Perhaps if it burns hot enough the plant will catch fire. That would be ideal. He slings one of his light balls into the base of the plant. ]

[Dion looks like a dishevelled mess thanks to being dragged through mud and leaves but there is no time for that at the moment.

He'll match Dion's attempt at using his light magic with a flare of fire as well. It will make the plant's large flower rear up angrily and the vines start to whip like angry snakes.

Joshua stands and offers his hand to Dion to help him up.]

Quickly now.

[Little do they know... The flower is opening to spew out... a yellow pollen.]

Of course. [ He's not overly thrilled to be dragged, but he gives Joshua his hand to get up, and it's at the point he's standing that one of the vines wraps around his loose arm.

It's enough to distract him, giving a hard yank as the pollen bursts out of the flower. ]

Was that not enough? [ Dion is distracted by both the vine and the pollen, his eyes wide. ]

[Joshua shakes it head.]

There is a reason that it is a bounty. It will not go down easily.

[He prepares another blast of fire but before he can the yellow pollen gets thicker in the air. It makes his nose burn and he brings a hand to his nose.]

What is that... That smell?

[ It's not an unpleasant smell, but there is an unpleasant burn breathing it in. He coughs lightly. This is not the most ideal of situations, but he's looking less at Joshua and more at the plant.

The vines are writhing and another snakes its way around one of his legs. ]

I don't think holding back will be of any benefit.

[Joshua has to squint his eyes and he lifts a palm to ignite some of the pollen in the air as well. It burns in his nose and lungs...

But he cannot lose his focus. The vines are coming for their legs and Joshua takes a step back as he blasts a fire spell at the ones closest to him.]

Then shall we bring even more firepower?

I don't see any way around it.

[ Stabbing individual vines is going to be a no go, his halberd is practically useless here and without getting through the vines, there's nothing for it.

The turquoise shimmer reflects through his hair and there's some light magic to take care of the vines surrounding his arm and leg already as he semi primes, draconic wings bursting forth from his back and his draconic tail making its appearance.

His wings flap back and forth, hopefully to disperse the pollen away from the two of them. He's feeling strange, but that's a concern for later. ]

[For a moment Joshua catches sight of Dion's changing. The golden green shine of his power is something Joshua has always admired. It might not be the time to admire him now, but he cannot look away just for a split second. It makes something warm bloom in his chest before he tries to calm himself down.

Why is his heart beating so ... fast...]

Dion. There's something wrong...

[The vines are starting to get more aggressive. And Joshua has to stumble a step back again. He begins to prime as well, firey embers starting to coat his skin and hair.]

I feel it too. [ Dion confirms, because he does. His pulse is racing, he feels warm and a little sensitive to his clothes touching some rather sensitive areas of his body. ]

We must dispatch this creature as quickly as possible. Surely we can handle the rest after that...these burning breaths. I fear the pollen has done something.

Right... The faster the better.

[The faster the pollen will drop off if they just kill it. So, Joshua allows himself to prime, firey wings erupting from his back as majestic as a solar flare. He immediately flies up and casts a powerful firaga spell at the creature which catches it in a firestorm.]

Dion!

[More fire power!!]

[ He is not one to leave a fighting companion in the lurch, definitely not and with a desire and need for more power, Dion brings just that.

He takes a deep breath and exhales. Various balls of his holy light magic begin appearing around the plant.

And...release.

It's bombarded, not just the plant itself but many of the tentacles will be hit with the searing light. Megaflare! ]

[The eruption of magic is a brilliantly blinding one. With the mixture of holy magic and searing fire, the plant can only succumb to a holy firestorm of damage that leaves it screaming and burning up so fast that there isn't much left to fight after that but a crisp pile of burning plant and leaves... That was quick work. But they are two very powerful dominants.

Once Joshua is finished he falls back to the ground with a small collapse. His legs want to give up weakly under the exertion and ... something else. He tries to suppress a cough and leans up against a nearby tree trunk to catch his breath.

Why does his chest feel so ...hot... He has to undo a few ties from the top.]

Ahhha... Slightly more trouble than expected but ... Nothing we couldn't handle.

[ Fortunately it's a plant that has no real resistance to such powerful fire and light magic and despite being a pain to deal with in the beginning, it was definitely the fastest way to deal with it.

Dion was hovering himself, he almost never notices when he does it, especially in combat but he drops down next to Joshua, swooping an arm around him to catch him. He already knows he's in for a world of exhaustion, and pain later but it's nothing he cannot handle. ]

Of course. Are you alright? [ It really doesn't help, he feels just as warm, and while he has yet to dismiss his form, he huffs lightly. ]

I don't recall being so warmed by your flames before. [ Unlike Joshua, getting relief is not half as easy for him, but he could remove his chest plate with a bit of time and effort, and he's definitely contemplating it.]

[At first, Joshua wonders if the breathlessness he feels is because of his affliction. Ultima choking up his lungs again-

But it's something else. When Dion's arm scoops around him to catch him from falling Joshua feels like his skin is on fire under his clothing. It's warm and itching and he has this urge to pull off the fabric from his skin to somehow breathe easier.

Joshua's hand settles on Dion's chest. Also trying something uneasy to at least reciprocate the touch of care. But Joshua's face is turning flush...]

To be perfectly honest, I am not sure... I feel unusually warm.

[Was it his flames?]

This heat... ?

Perhaps it's not the flames at all. [ Nor his own holy flames, most likely. That Joshua appears to be equally afflicted and the heat is building within him, it takes a moment, but a twinge that has him shifting on his feet.

Burning arousal. Horribly inconvenient at the moment, considering he's both no longer a teenager and it's not something he'd like to make Joshua aware of.

Suddenly he's no longer lamenting the layers of his clothing. ]

I daresay this affliction comes from the pollen...I should... [ Kiss him - no wait, that's not what he means to do is it.

Dion has trailed off and he's locking eyes with Joshua. He wants this, at least in this moment, but he also is distantly aware something is wrong. ]

I... [ Dion breathes, as though he's struggling with what to do. ]

The pollen...?

[Joshua's eyes are glazing over lightly. He watches Dion's face with a hint of curiosity and confusion. His eyes linger down the side of Dion's neck. His skin... How smooth and scarred it must be.

He swallows. Joshua quickly realizes the heat that he's feeling is the wash of new arousal. He can feel a sudden strain in his leather pants that makes him shift uncomfortably and burn with embarrassment. This isn't good... Because for Joshua, who's never been with another before, this feels tenfold stronger.]

Dion. Please... If you could...

[Could what?? Back up? Get closer?? His mind is getting hazy...]

Help...

[ The spell is powerful, but it is just that and part of Dion knows that. He was so sorely tempted, and he leaned in a little bit as though he were going to kiss Joshua, but managed at the last moment to withdraw.

He doesn't know how to make it stop, however, he very carefully let Joshua go, even though that was a terrible thing to do. It felt awful. It wasn't what he wanted. ]

I...don't know how long this will last. We should...perhaps, find somewhere secluded to ride it out. [ Not like that!! ]

We need to get out of here. [ That much is clear. ]

[For a brief moment... Joshua feels Dion so close. So close he can almost touch how warm he is. And for that same brief moment, Joshua's eyes had widened, he had felt the heat rise to his cheeks and he had felt so much... Want. Desire. Need. He nearly leans in as well, almost as if he wants to chase it. He wants to grab onto Dion and he wants to say...

But then it's over. Dion moves away and Joshua feels the cold creep in and feels something sharp in his chest. He quickly clears his throat and looks away.

Of course. This is unbecoming of him.]

Yeah. ... Of course. Let us go.

[He'll be the first one to turn to walk away, however difficult it is to do that.]

There should be a shelter on the road nearby.

[ The urges are strong. He wants to pull Joshua close, to keep him there and embrace him. Press his lips to his and relish his reactions, but this sudden urge bubbling to the surface-

-and it is that, no matter how much he's found Joshua attractive outside of it -

this sudden urge is unnatural. It's being caused by something, that he's very sure, like an altered state and both of them may find themselves in a position they regret. He doesn't want Joshua to regret anything from him if he can help it. No more than what they were already walking into.

So he forces himself to keep his arms curled around himself as they walk. He's uncomfortable and thoroughly aroused. His thoughts keep wandering as he looks at Joshua...there's a lot he's going to have to sit down and think about when this is over. There really is. He wasn't intending on moving onto another relationship, but he's not dead and Terence is not here, and he needs to decide if this is just this undue influence or if there's more at play.

Finding Joshua attractive in itself is not an unusual thought, but does he want to do something about it? Would Joshua want him to?

Dion is barely listening. ]

Hm? [ Dion says finally, when it registers that Joshua is talking to him and he's just lost in his own thoughts. It's so much more difficult to reason any of that out at the moment when frankly he keeps circling back to how good Joshua looks in those pants and how much better they'd be off of him. This clearly isn't the time for deep thought. ]

[Joshua makes the mistake of looking over his shoulder when Dion makes a noise. He sees his face, however, flush and dazed from the pollen's toxin that it is. And seeing Dion's face looking like that makes another sharp pain in Joshua's chest.

It's truly difficult to move. His skin feels like it's crawling. The arousal is so strong in his veins that he feels like he might start shaking. But all of it is a reminder of just how much he truly wants ... Dion. He wants to tell him. Wants to express his quiet feelings and affection to him. Wants to touch him...

But he knows he can't. Shouldn't. It wouldn't be proper of him, especially knowing Dion's circumstances. This little crush of Joshua's ... he must do his best to let it run its course.

He looks away.]

The shelter is just up ahead...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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ELTRUT

ELAH

NOGARD

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